Eleven years ago, what was I, ten? Yes… and Secret-eye was nineteen or twenty.
The under twenty tournament of archery. Secret-eye was a part of it. Even with his deceiving way of using his speed, secretly, he had a formidable opponent. She was too good, a perfect tie with him.
Secret-eye could easily toss or deviate her projectiles… but he didn't. He didn't want to go so low either.
I was invested in it. I knew Secret-eye's secret, and supported his opponent. But he had my respect on how he didn't try to make her lose, just wanted himself to win. It was honourable enough, even when frustrating.
A world with heroes… also has villains. One hit right there, at the tournament. It was none other than Onor. And it was Point-zero's idea to get him there.
Pack only consisted of three members back then. Alongside Point-zero and Super-pack, there was an older one, a retired one, Rem. I didn't know much about her.
Commotions were caused, attempt on proper evacuation was made, but… Onor was enraged. He started breaking things apart… breaking people apart.
A piece of the wall started falling towards Secret-eye's rival.
He could have saved her, he could have pushed her away, helped her away. Instead he shot a fucking arrow at the wall. It didn't do anything to it, and she passed away, later in the hospital. After Secret-eye put on a show of sadness.
And thence began my saga of hating him… Blood.
"Were you a hero then?" I ask, and Secret-eye just stares at me, speechlessly. "Any of you… are you? Or do I need to point out such stories?"
I idiotically glance at Super-pack, and the big guy shudders.
"Why did you even join us then?" Point-zero asks. "Or specifically… is this why you joined?"
"Yes, I wanted to reveal to the world of how many lives this great team, the one and only team of the nation… could have saved."
"Your ex… you tipped him off-" and before Point-zero can finish his attempt to make me uncomfortable and get me back to my senses, I break the ice.
"-yes, I made Blood," I say, and everyone just stares at me with wide eyes. "I even was one of the earlier attempts of killing him. You should know by now that the fanbase is big, I was a big part of its cause."
I see tears appear in Mind's eyes. Why was he the one to cry?
"I want to hear it," Mind says. "I'd like to know my part of your… revelation."
The last word comes with disgust on my attempt. I least expected him to understand my point.
"You were there too that day, fanboy. Don't think I dont-"
"-I was a kid!" Mind grits his teeth.
"Well… so was she," I say. "You think you are any better? You think I don't know your reason for doing this? What, to seem cool? School crush and all. Telekinesis. That makes you a hero?"
"FUCK! YOU!" Mind screams in delayed whispers.
His full face gone red, he grabs a nearby table, to control from throwing hands.
"And?" Point-zero asks. "What's your point?"
I scoff.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh nothing. Or… maybe how I'm literally telling you about each other, yet you are not angry on the other… cause you know how dirty your own hands are."
"Did anyone else try to save another there?"
"And that is how you justify yourself?"
"Oh I'm sorry. People die. Whether we try to save them or not. And who am I hearing nagging from again… how many people have YOU saved, Einya?" Point-zero asks, and I stare at him. "You are one of Blood? So in that case, you tried to kill someone who did ONE mistake. But did you try to make a Blood wherein you try to SAVE people?"
"Oh right. I'm the asshole. I should have saved people."
"You ever heard that phrase… the world is full of good people, if you can't find one, be one? You couldn't see enough good in few people, and decided to be the worst, and make worse people. So how about that?"
"You…" I say and sigh.
"Hero? You know who all have not fuck up? No one… why do you expect us to be so perfect?"
"Because you are all this nation has!"
"No. It has got misfits such as you and Blood, and many other, with all due respect. Misfits who blame the heroes for their bad job, while scaring people, and eventually ending up, killing them."
"With righteousness," Super-pack says. "I get it. I killed my best friend. Secret-eye… all of us fucked up. What did you do? Try to kill another person, like me. With intent, if I may add. And you think… you, or Blood are a hero?"
"Better than you lot."
"Hmm… kids when Onor's incident happened. But what about Roach? Where is your great hero? Or one year ago, the year back? Didn't seem like… there were many incidents right?"
"They don't have powers, alright?"
"Okay. But they can make a good rival to a speedster who looks as a marksman? Come on Einya… that's bullshit."
"Well, all thanks to me."
"And? You still support them?"
"I don't… support them. Just… there are lot of lives under your… rule, basically. You should not just, let them go," I say. "And besides, I was just… a kid. A teenager. Angry."
"Wow," Mind says and scoffs. "Deja-vu anyone?"
"We at least try to do something right with our powers. What did you do? Spy on people and know about them. Pretty sure you used such tricks to get a good prom date," Secret-eye says.
"Still think you are better?"
I stay silent.
"I request the leader, for the removal of Einya King, from the team," Mind finally says, after a lot of silence. "Who else supports the action?"
Super-pack raises his hand. But the other two just exchange glances. Point-zero barely had an expression up his face.
"Two for two," Point-zero says. "So we ask our last member… will you stay… or leave?"
All the eyes stare at me, as I still continue being speechless. And as I open my mouth-
"-you are finally awake," I hear a voice, in a plane I could recognise, even when I witnessed only once. "Kept me waiting for so long, with questions."
"Hedi-bhootha," I say.
I feel tickles on my body, and observe the suit to turn red and black at the same time, while tightening around me.
"That is a term of mockery… to my being. Better refrain from its use."
"I'm… sorry?"
But the suit still acts the same.
"I think you need to fix that suit. Anyways, I was worried you-that maybe Roach ended you for good. I'm glad."
"Why did you… call upon me?"
"Because I can… now don't get me wrong but… nobody can do this I mean. So I need to know what you are."
"Uh… fuck off?"
"How about in exchange to sparing your life?"
"What is happening here?" I hear a voice… and find Mind besides me, holding my shoulder.
"That makes two… problems."
"Better learn counting then," Super-pack says.
Point-zero wasn't here though.
"Why are all of you holding my shoulder?" I ask.
"Because it'd have been inappropriate to touch you elsewhere," Mind says.
"Pack… the whole bunch. Is she your teammate?"
Nobody answers that. Right… it was tentative at the moment.
"I am," I decide.
"She is," the rest say, right after.
"Hmm… some other day then? Let's have a safe meeting some other day. Including your great leader, perhaps."
And I find myself back in the hospital, with the three guys holding my shoulder.
"Guys, please don't," Point-zero says, pushing them back. "She-"
"-I take back my request," Mind says. "She can stay… but in her limits."
"And I take back my vote… tentative," Super-pack says.
"That's… great," Point-zero says.
"I think-" all of us, except Point-zero say, startling him and ourselves a bit.
"It may not be Blood," Secret-eye says. "Seems to be something bigger."
"I'll go try to find that girl with spectacles," Mind says, and speeds away, almost disappearing.
"Mackenzie Zhang, that's still the name right?" Secret-eye asks.
"We can never be sure. He could have gotten powers, for all we know," Super-pack says.
"True. Yes, it's him."
And the two disappear too. Leaving me and Point-zero here.
"What just happened?" Point-zero asks.
"Well… it seems that speedsters need to stick together," I shrug. "Besides, I can't give you much details because it is related to someone… we cannot or shouldn't name."
"The Asuraas? Why?"
"I think they have their guesses on what happened there. And are trying to find Endal's killer. You know what happens then…"
"All that happened just a moment ago?"
"I'm sorry you feel left out, Mr. Speedster."
"Einya-"
"-I'm sorry… and I need to thank all of you too. For breaking some chains of my mind."
"We all have our times, Einya King," Point-zero says. "But I will ask you again… will you be the fifth member of Pack?"
I feel like being lively and joke, but this guy was a party-pooper, with his serious expression.
"I'm ready to be useful to the team which saved my life. Not taking in account of how it could have saved others… I will prove my words and worth."
There are no heroes… there are only people who don't chose to be the villain, I suppose. And so I make my choice.